Twenty-eight groundwater samples were collected from basins of various areas in Homs Governorate, which were harvested in sterile containers until they were transferred for analysis. They were germically analyzed by planting on the tregitol 7 agar plant. 35% of the samples showed positive bacterial contamination while 65% The concentration of sulphate, nitrate and nitrite in the samples was all within the limits allowed by the World Health Organization. 

Alnasser, Rehab

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Chemical and Process Engineering Research                                                                                                                                    www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7467 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0913 (Online) Vol.56, 2018  20 Bacteriological and Chemical Characterization of Groundwater Samples in Homs Governorate  Rehab Alnasser1      Anouar Alomar2      Fatima Alrahal3 1.M.S. Department of Technology, Al-Baath University Homs, Syria 2.Prof. Department of Microbiology, Faculity of Scince, Al-Baath University Homs, Syria  Abstract Twenty-eight groundwater samples were collected from basins of various areas in Homs Governorate, which were harvested in sterile containers until they were transferred for analysis. They were germically analyzed by planting on the tregitol 7 agar plant. 35% of the samples showed positive bacterial contamination while 65% The concentration of sulphate, nitrate and nitrite in the samples was all within the limits allowed by the World Health Organization.   1. Introduction Underground water is the most important source of fresh water on the earth including wells and springs. This water is continuously renewed by rains as an essential factor of hydrologic cycle factors. It’s protected by soil layers as effective biologic and mechanical filters, meaning that there is natural filtering for underground water last consisted. This leads to ability to save this water for decades. Underground water is drinking water and can be used by human[1]. Water is considered drinkable when it’s free of all microorganisms and pathogenic chemicals. The quality of water is so important since it affects health. Water pollution is an international problem since it causes a lot of illness such as cholera, typhoid, diarrheas and other disorders specially affecting children and newborn because of their weak immunity[2]. Water pollution is the water containing materials affecting its characteristics, quality and nature because the concentration of these materials is exceeding the allowed levels. According to World Health Organization (WHO), water pollution is defined as “any direct or indirect change in the composition of water because of human activity”[3]. Because of that, authorities of each country have put standard specifications for drinking water, and these standards may vary in its allowed concentration of materials. However, drinking water should be clear, odorless, tasteless, and free of harmful chemicals and pathogenic microorganism. Physical examination is not enough, since water may be clear, odorless and tasteless, but not free of pathogens. Drinking water should meet standards[4]. Microbial and chemical quality standards may vary between countries. The pathogenic microbial groups and species that are potentially harmful to human health, which are often detected in drinking water and groundwater, vary. Since most of the natural habitat is the human and animal digestive system that comes out with feces, microbial hazards are associated with human consumption of polluted water, which is a source of bacteria that cause many diseases, viruses, parasites and worms. Fecal contamination of water is a serious problem because of the risk of exposure to pathogens often borne [5]. The concentration of pathogens in the stool is weak, but their numbers are relatively large and not easy to detect. It takes time and is expensive. Instead, the presence of pathogens is determined by testing the presence of coliform bacteria, which is used as an indicator of fecal contamination, An idea about the state of water[6] coliform bacteria is Known as Gram-negative bacilli, are a typical group of total coliforms and include several strains of bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Kleibsiella, found in feces, characterized by temperatures up to 44.5 ° C, More accurate for fecal contamination than the total number of colons. At this temperature only fecal coliform bacteria grow and inhibit the growth of ecologics. The presence of any coliform in water is a danger that can not be ignored [7-8] There is a wide range of chemicals and pathogens that pollute the groundwater and reduce its oxygen content and thus make this water unsuitable for human consumption. Recall these compounds (nitrates, nitrite, sulphates). Nitrates can reach surface and ground water as a result of agricultural activity, including the excessive use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers and organic fertilizer. [9] Once contaminated with nitrate, it will remain contaminated for decades[10]. The toxicity of nitrates in humans is attributed to the return to nitrite, where the biological effect of nitrite on humans is the oxidation of hemoglobin to metoglobin, which is unable to transport oxygen to the tissues causing the syndrome of the blue child and its associated symptoms such as high blood pressure and increased rate of strokes Heart, diarrhea, blue-gray color may lead to death [11] Sulfates : Sulfates are generally non-toxic, but recently concerns have been raised about the health effects associated with the presence of high concentrations of sulphate in water, which have been associated with many Chemical and Process Engineering Research                                                                                                                                    www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7467 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0913 (Online) Vol.56, 2018  21 cases of inflammation of the intestines and diarrhea and thus dehydration, especially in children and infants, when using water sources with concentrations less sulfur Diarrheal cases have decreased in all children [12] Many studies conclude that there is a need to periodically monitor water quality, because the increased concentration of chemical agents, microbial contaminants, industrial waste and improper disposal of wastewater will increase the threat to human health[13].  2. Research material: Petri Dishes, sterile bacterial filtration paper, glass flasks,Trigetol 7 agar, Filtration apparatus, Molecular Absorption Spectrometer.  3. Research Methodologies: Twenty-eight samples were collected in sterile containers. The analysis was performed two hours after sampling. The sample was sprayed on a cellulose membrane with 0.45 µm pores where the bacteria were collected on the filtration membrane surface, the membrane was transferred with sterile forceps and placed on TRIGETOL 7 AGAR, and incubated for 24 hours at 37 ° C The chemical analysis of the studied samples was performed using the spectral method. Two cells were used for each electrolyte to be detected, a cell containing distilled water was considered a witness, the other cell was placed in the studied droplet detector. (5 minutes for nitrate, 15 minutes for nitrite and 5 minutes for sulphate), then stirred for 1 minute. Measurements were performed for each trace. After determining the maximum wavelength of the measured residue under the applicable conditions, Discriminate (500 nm nitrate,507 nm for Nitrite 450 nm sulfate). Table 1. the used samples and Water basin taken from it. Assi Basin Coastal Basin Aquarium water 26 2 Number of samples  4. Result and discussion: Table 2. Show the  bacterial results of the samples:: Aquarium water Sample number Date of sample collection Total bacterial counts cfu\100ml Total coliform cfu\100ml Escherchia.coli cfu\100ml Assi Basin 1 December 0 0 0 Assi Basin 2 December 9 8 0 Assi Basin 3 December 250 120 0 Assi Basin 4 December 10 5 0 Assi Basin 5 December 5 4 0 Assi Basin 6 December 225 200 0 Assi Basin 7 December 0 0 0 Assi Basin 8 December 15 13 0 Assi Basin 9 December 850 750 275 Assi Basin 10 December 950 750 175 Assi Basin 11 December 650 450 35 Assi Basin 12 December 12 4 1 Assi Basin 13 December 150 60 55 Assi Basin 14 December 0 0 1 Assi Basin 15 December 4 0 1 Assi Basin 16 December 110 70 30 Assi Basin 17 December 700 550 90 Assi Basin 18 December 290 175 30 Assi Basin 19 December 7 0 0 Assi Basin 20 December 3 0 0 Assi Basin 21 December 60 45 20 Assi Basin 22 December 950 750 19 Assi Basin 23 December 15 6 4 Assi Basin 24 December 15 4 0 Assi Basin 25 December 890 500 90 Assi Basin 26 December 4 2 1 Coastal Basin 27 December 450 290 120 Coastal Basin 28 December 90 30 12 Chemical and Process Engineering Research                                                                                                                                    www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7467 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0913 (Online) Vol.56, 2018  22 The method used to discover  total coliform , feacel bacteria and Escherichia coli is colony form using tregitol 7 agar mediums, Where usually in Laboratories the type of colony is diagnosed on the light of shape characteristics without using any other means, The characteristics of the bacteria in this form as shown in figure (1),coliforms produce yellow to yellow-green colonies,  E. coli produces yellow colonies.   Figure 1. the the bacteria in Tregitol 7 agar medium Table 2. Show the chemical results of the samples: Aquarium water Sample number Date of sample collection Concentration of Nitrate mg/l Concentration of nitrite mg/l Concentration of sulphates mg/l Assi Basin 1 December 21.56 0.0033 28 Assi Basin 2 December 22.44 0.0033 32 Assi Basin 3 December 15.3 0.011 28 Assi Basin 4 December 13.5 0.012 12 Assi Basin 5 December 16.8 0.009 27 Assi Basin 6 December 14.96 0.01 25 Assi Basin 7 December 12.76 0.0066 69 Assi Basin 8 December 13.64 0.0033 42 Assi Basin 9 December 22 0.0561 12 Assi Basin 10 December 14.04 0.0197 9 Assi Basin 11 December 15.84 0.0198 12 Assi Basin 12 December 8.02 0.013 186 Assi Basin 13 December 11.88 0.026 70 Assi Basin 14 December 10.11 0.0198 7 Assi Basin 15 December 23.3 0.003 2 Assi Basin 16 December 12.3 0 32 Assi Basin 17 December 10.81 0.033 44 Assi Basin 18 December 19.8 0.006 3 Assi Basin 19 December 26.4 0.004 10 Assi Basin 20 December 29.92 0.007 244 Assi Basin 21 December 9.69 0.005 211 Assi Basin 22 December 8.41 0.0133 177 Assi Basin 23 December 147 0 68 Assi Basin 24 December 33 0.115 0 Assi Basin 25 December 7.04 0.0099 157 Assi Basin 26 December 24.1 0.002 52 Coastal Basin 27 December 23.9 0.198 12 Coastal Basin 28 December 12.31 0.003 51 Chemical and Process Engineering Research                                                                                                                                    www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-7467 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0913 (Online) Vol.56, 2018  23 5. Conclusion The differentiative medium tregitol 7 agar is a good selective differentiative medium, and the Escherichia Coli is one of the most obvious colony. (35%) of the samples gave a positive result of bacterial contamination, while (78%) gave a positive result of contamination with Bacillus coli, while E. coli showed 60%. The results of the chemical analysis were concentrations of sulfur, nitrate and nitrite within the limits allowed by the World Health Organization.  6. Acknowledgement The author express her thanks to AL Baath University, faculty of sciences, for their assistance during the work.  7. References [1] Ramakrishnaiah  C.R. et al,2009- Assessment of Water Quality Index for the Groundwater in Tumkur Taluk, Karnataka State, India, E-Journal of Chemistry, 6(2), 523-530. [2] Deepti Mishra, Manish Mudgal, Mohd Akram Khan, Prabha Padmakaran and Bchakradhar.  Assessment of groundwater quality of Bhavnaga region (Gujarat). J Sci & Industrial Research. 2009;68:964-966. [3] World Health Organisation (2004). Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality (3rd Ed). [4] WHO (World Health Organization)., 1998- Guidelines for drinking water quality. 2nd edition, Geneva, World Health Organization. [5] Gerba, C.P., and Smith, j.e., jr. 2005- Sources of pathogenic microorganisms and their fate during land application of wastes. J Environ Qual, 34, 42-48. [6] - FENG, P., C.,S, HARTMAN, P., A; 1982- Fluorigenic Assays For Immediate Confirmation of Escherichia Coli, Appl Environ Microbiol, 43,1320-1329. [7]- LECLERC, H., MOSSEL, D.,A, EDBERG, S.,C, STRUIJK, C.,B; 2001- Advances In The Bacteriology of The Coliform Group: Their Suitability As Markers of Microbial Water Safety. Annu Rev Microbiol, 551, 201-234. [8]- TALLON, P., MAGAJNA, B., LOFRANCO, C., LEUNG, K., T; 2005- Microbial Indicators Of Faecal Contamination in Water: A Current Perspective, Water Air Soil Pollut, 166, 139-166. [9] Mesinga T.T, Speijers G.J.A., Meulenbelt J (2003) Health implications of exposure to environmental nitrogenous compounds. Toxicological Reviews, 22(1):41–51 [10] WHO (1985a) Guidelines for the study of dietary intake of chemical contaminants. Geneva, World Health Organization (WHO Offset Publication No. 87). [11] Dietert, R.R., 2009- Developmental immunotoxicology: focus on health risks. Chemical Research in  in Toxicology, 22 (1),17-23. [12] Backer LC. 2000. Assessing the acute gastrointestinal effects of ingesting naturally occurring high levels of sulfate in drinking water. Crit. Rev. Clinic. Lab. Sci. 37:389–400. [13] Abimbola, A,F., Odukoya, A.M.; Adesanya, O.K.; 2002- The environmental impact assessment of waste disposal site on  ground water in Oke Ado and Lagos, southwestern Nigeria. Proceedings 15th Annual conference Nigerian Association of Hydrogeologists Kaduna, Nigeria, 42pp.      

Bacteriological and Chemical Characterization of Groundwater Samples in Homs Governorate

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Bacteriological and Chemical Characterization of Groundwater Samples in Homs Governorate

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